Damon-Yankees: Could Be Getting Closer to a Deal

Bronx Baseball Daily

Jan 23, 2010

According to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, the Yankees have offered free agent outfielder Johnny Damon a deal that is believed to be near $5 million and if he does not accept it by the end of this weekend it could be off the table.

To make that story more interesting, Damon recently sent a text message to Marc Carig of the Star Ledger saying that he “should have a team in a week.” Unless that is a lie or some other mystery team has suddenly joined the bidding then that could mean that Damon is open to accepting a lesser deal.

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What is possible, although purely speculation on my part, is that Damon accepts a Andy Pettitte type deal from a year ago: a small base salary in the $5 million range with incentives that could bring it in the $10 million range. If that is the case than Brian Cashman has gotten Damon at quite the deal.

Heyman is speculative that Damon would be willing to accept such a deal writing, “The chances he will accept a low-base contract for a few million dollars (probably no more than $5 million guaranteed) from the Yankees still appear slim, so Damon’s tenure with the team could officially end early next week.”

To me that sounds like Scott Boras whispering in his ear some more. It’s nearly February and he doesn't have a deal yet. I find it hard to believe he wouldn’t at least put forward a strong effort to make something work out with the Yankees.

You have to go back to that text message to Carig. If it were so certain that he wouldn’t accept that offer, or one close to it, then why would Damon say that he should have a team within a week?

All of this looks like a thin veil by Boras at this point. Unless I’m totally wrong and there is a team out there making a serious and secret bid for Damon’s services.